L. (Lena) Václavů, PhD

I am a neuroimaging scientist, fascinated by using new technologies to show how the brain works and why certain changes occur with disease. I graduated with a degree in psychology (BSc) from Queen’s University Belfast, then did a research masters (MRes) in neurosciences at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. My PhD at the Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, focused on applying advanced blood flow and perfusion techniques to study cerebral haemodynamics in sickle cell disease. In 2018, I joined the C.J. Gorter MRI Center at LUMC, cofounded by industry (Philips) as a postdoctoral researcher, working on clinical implementation and dissemination of advanced arterial spin labeling technology, specifically multi-timepoint and blood-brain barrier imaging. I was an Early Career Fellow at ESMRMB, Trainee Deputy Editor at JMRI, and Trainee Representative of ISMRM Perfusion study group. In 2023, I became a Senior Researcher at LUMC.

The non-invasive nature of MRI is incredibly powerful in clinical diagnosis but finding the best way of acquiring disease-specific data is highly challenging, needing both a detailed understanding of the disease and MRI techniques. My current research is focused on combining these two factors. This involves: optimising new perfusion and permeability techniques for specific brain diseases (cerebral small vessel disease, epilepsy, ageing, glioma, Alzheimer’s & other dementias), providing new clinically-useful information, collaborating globally to implement and validate these new MR methods for clinical trials and studies.

The Dutch Sickle Cell Foundation funded my application to study the relationship between white matter hyperintensities and blood flow velocity pulsatility in sickle cell disease using advanced 4D MRI. In 2023, the NWO Domain Applied and Engineering Sciences funded my ‘veni’ application to develop, implement, and validate advanced multi-timepoint arterial spin labelling techniques for clinical use.